For some reason people love using this word. Yea, there are times where a player chokes like when serving for the match in a big match and he hits 2 double faults and a couple of unforced errors. That is a choke without a question but when a player is serving for a match and the returner hits 4 winners most people here still called it a choke. That shouldnt be the case sometimes you have to be able to say the other guy is just too good today. If a player is favorite to win a tournament and he loses to some guy who plays the match of his life, well guess what MTF still says choke. Not true. I think many of you people need to learn what a choke is before you start saying every player who loses is a choker.

People are unwilling to be objective and are too distracted by their own fandom.

12-09-2011 08:31 PM

r2473

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

Choke:~verb

1. One of the only two possible outcomes for a match: you win, or you choke.

2. When a specific MTF poster’s favourite player had an advantage (match ball, set ball, break ball, point ball, or when he’s just talented --> see “talented”) and doesn’t capitalize it. That proves the player is better than the rival, no matter if the rival is actually able to capitalize his own advantages.

Choker:~noun

1. Player that lost a match but you wanted him to win so bad, didn’t you?

So I emphasize it is not simply missing a big shot in an important tiebreaker, it is rather the complete inability to recuperate.

This is very true. I also think the opponent outplaying you does not count as a choke either.

People can complain all they want. But Federer did not choke against Djokovic in the last two U.S. Opens.

Djokovic's return of serves and dominant plays off the baseline ensured victories in both matches.

12-09-2011 08:59 AM

Haelfix

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

Everyone gets tight in some points/games and even entire sets. Thats why its absurd when people say that someone 'chokes' on a big point. It doesn't work that way. If you use that definition, every tennis player in the world chokes multiple times in an average match...

Choking is a sustained period where you play much less well than you normally do, and in addition has a very characteristic feel (eg the rush of adrenaline, the wobbly legs, etc).

Choking is therefore the act of not being able to recuperate from a physiological problem. The Gaudio/Coria match is an example. It wasn't just the bad game in the 3rd set that Coria should have won, that was understandable, but rather the complete inability to bounce back to proper form in sets 4 and 5 despite being physically still there. That's what a choke looks like.

So I emphasize it is not simply missing a big shot in an important tiebreaker, it is rather the complete inability to recuperate.

12-09-2011 07:59 AM

tripwires

Re: Is choking as a phenomenon greatly exagerated in mens tennis?

On MTF? Definitely. Lots of drama queens here.

12-09-2011 07:57 AM

2003

Is choking as a phenomenon greatly exagerated in mens tennis?

Theres no doubt choking exists to some extent, though I feel 95% of the time it is used as an adjective it isnt really applied properly.

What do you think?

09-11-2007 11:04 AM

VolandriFan

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

And some people call it a choke only when the player hits unforced errors or double faults. Choking also includes hitting the ball softly and without depth to the center of the court, using pathetic and inefficient tactics and serving second serves as first serves.

09-11-2007 09:33 AM

Eden

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

Pete Sampras said after he defeated Rafter in the Wimbledon final to get his 7th title there and his 13th overall GS title:

''We all choke,'' said Sampras, who wound up with 12 double-faults. ''No matter who you are, you just get in the heat of the moment. The title could be won or lost in a matter of a couple of shots."

How can you give the Ginepri-Mantilla match as a prime example of choking and label this one as "not a choke at all", because Ginepri lead 5:0 in the 2nd and Canas "only" 4:0 with a chance to go up 5:0? :retard:

Any player leading by a set and a double break and ending-up losing the match is necessarily a choke, let alone a plyer like Canas whose serve is more than enough to win him some free points.

First of all did you watch the Canas/Mathieu match? Second of all these were different matches with different kinds of players. I am a huge Mantilla fan, but if you are honest with yourself, then he isn't going to start blasting winners from both sides of the court is he? He has never done that and I had a friend of mine at this match and Mantilla played like he normally did and fought even harder and wasn't blasting winners like Mathieu was in his match.

Canas was guilty of being passive and expecting Mathieu to continue making errors and when Paulo adjusted, he wasn't able to keep up, naturally he is experienced enough to have known to put the guy away, but he failed to do that and this was down to choking, he slowed down on serve and had a concentration lapse and got punished.

Conclusion, just cause the scores were similar, the circumstances weren't at all.

How can you give the Ginepri-Mantilla match as a prime example of choking and label this one as "not a choke at all", because Ginepri lead 5:0 in the 2nd and Canas "only" 4:0 with a chance to go up 5:0? :retard:

Any player leading by a set and a double break and ending-up losing the match is necessarily a choke, let alone a plyer like Canas whose serve is more than enough to win him some free points.

08-08-2007 05:37 AM

Allure

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

Choke=what happens to Nadal when he eats a banana between matches

08-08-2007 05:32 AM

Jimnik

Re: Meaning of the word " Choke "

Hmm, I agree the word is over-used but I wouldn't go as far as saying a player needs to have MPs or needs to be a set and a break up. Take Verdasco, for instance, Davis Cup against Roddick he goes 5-2 up in the first set and then sprays UEs all over the place. And this is typical of the man, he doesn't need to be close to the finishing line to start choking. Sometimes he's up an early break in a set and loses his nerve very quickly.

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